Appearing before the House of Representatives Committee on Finance to defend her ministry’s budget for 2021 recently, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, requested the National Assembly’s approval for the government to borrow $1.2bn from Brazil to finance agriculture.
The loan, she said, will be used to acquire 100,000 hectares of land in each state for food production, build roads in such locations to provide access for farmers to move farm produce to markets and reduce post-harvest losses and issues in the agriculture value chain in Nigeria. Many found such request ridiculous not only because of the country the loan is coming from but that what is needed for the agricultural sector in the country to thrive is adequate tackling of insecurity that has been the lot of the country for many years, not endless loans.
The unfortunate event that took place in Borno State last weekend where over 40 rice farmers were slaughtered in their farm by members of Boko Haram Islamist group is a clear testimony that no amount of loan from any country be it Europe, America or if we like, Benin, will make agriculture a viable option for many, except measures to secure people’s lives and property especially in the villages are put in place.
With the drastic reduction in oil price in the international market recently and its attendant consequences, there had been calls for the nation to go back to agriculture. Diversification of the economy became the talk of the day. Not a few individuals, both private and corporate heeded to this call as more and more people began to invest in agriculture. In Anambra State, for instance, renowned businessmen went into massive production of rice, tomatoes and many more. Governments at both federal and state levels have also shown readiness to diversify the economy and invest hugely in agriculture.
Incidentally, with the endless menace of herdsmen across the country, particularly in North Central, South East and South South zones, the idea of revamping the agricultural sector might just be a mirage.
Virtually every day, we hear stories of the brutal attack by the herdsmen who would not spare any community that dares question the destruction of their farmlands and crops by their cattle. Apart from the destruction of crops, they engage in armed robbery, abduction, raping and killing. The loss of lives and massive destruction of property that usually attend the attacks are indications of how heavily armed the cattle rearers are. From a group of stick – wielding pastoralists, living essentially nomadic life, the Fulani herdsmen have metamorphosed into arms bearing fighting force. Yet we are in a country that criminalizes illegal possession of arms.
Not even a recent anti-open grazing law of Benue State could deter them as the leaders of a Fulani socio-cultural association, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, had not only kicked against the law, but vowed to mobilize their members to resist its implementation. Nor are they bothered by the presence of policemen. Recall how about 15 policemen drafted to the farm of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF),Chief Olu Falae, narrowly escaped death when suspected herdsmen allegedly opened fire on them in the farm. It was gathered that the herdsmen stormed the farm in Akure and destroyed it. That prompted Falae to invite the police, only for the herdsmen to attack the policemen.
Why both current and past governments have not taken any concrete action to stop this barbaric act is still a puzzle to many. Of course, the Federal Government would always order an investigation into some major attacks or send a “high powered delegation” to the affected state, the National Assembly would equally assure to look into the matter, but what has been the outcome of these? Has anybody or group ever been made to account for their deadly acts?
No doubt, the failure to address this problem all these past years has emboldened the herdsmen to carry on with the unbridled trampling on the rights of other Nigerians peacefully living in their communities. It has continued to flame the ember of hatred among various communities, religions and tribes. One wonders how we can revamp agricultural sector and achieve food security under the prevailing circumstance.
At this critical time when people are being encouraged to go into farming to ensure availability of food in the country and to curtail food importation, herdsmen should not be allowed to empty their cattle into cultivated farmlands and destroy crops and farmlands.
Most importantly, Nigeria should toe the line of the developed countries who keep their animals in ranches. In no advanced country can you see cattle roaming freely on the properties of other people and causing problem for their countries. Both federal, state, local government even cattle owners who make money from this business, can join hands in establishing ranches and grazing reserves across the country and adopt other strategies to enable herdsmen settle to modern systems of livestock farming.
We are glad that President Muhammadu Buhari, the nation’s chief security officer, has accepted the invitation of the federal law makers to brief them on the security situation in the country. Probably he will be able to tell the nation why crime and insecurity issues continue unabated despite his promise to tackle them head on. Nigerians also await his answers on why the security chiefs continue to stay in office in spite of repeated calls for their sack by many Nigerians including the law makers based on their long expired tenure in office and apparent exhaustion of ideas on how to deal with the painful security situation in the country.

By: Calista Ezeaku